23:06
Unknown
Hazy skies over the Coachella Valley Friday most likely had more to do with smog and the increased temperatures in the desert than with the wildfires burning in other parts of Southern California, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District said.
But there was always the possibility that the winds could have shifted and the smoke from the multiple fires burning in San Diego County traveled here.
A smoke advisory was issued Friday for portions of Los Angeles County and all of Orange County, San Bernardino County, and non-desert portions of Riverside County.
"The smoke advisory does not include the Coachella Valley," Sam Atwood, a spokesman for the air quality management district Friday. However, "it is possible that smoke from the L.A. Basin coming over the Banning Pass or just coming up from San Diego" can spill over to parts of the Coachella Valley.
"Bottom line is it's not a great day for air quality," Atwood said. "Anytime air quality is in the unhealthy zone, residents who are sensitive should not exercise vigorously outdoors."
Regardless of the wildfires' affect on air-quality measures, Coachella Valley residents and visitors smelled smoke and noticed a visible change in the air.
"At about 6:30 p.m., it started smelling like someone was smoking next to you," said Chase Wood, who was visiting Palm Springs from Orange County. "It was apparent it's the fire."
Near the Fantastic Sams' on Sunrise Way in Palm Springs, Taylor Meighan said she noticed a lot of haziness in the sky. "I thought it was a thunderstorm coming until I smelled the smoke," she said.
When there is fire in the area the air definitely changes, said Felipe Carbajal, a Palm Springs resident. Carbajal said he had been smelling smoke all day in the area.
The unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups in the Coachella Valley is due to ozone conditions and not smoke but that could change, Atwood said on Friday.
Sensitive groups can range from people who have asthma to those with heart conditions, Atwood said.
He encouraged Coachella Valley residents, especially those in sensitive groups, to sign up for air-quality alerts via airalerts.org. Alerts can be customized to your area, Atwood added.
Other areas of Southern California may also experience elevated particulate emissions and smoke odors from the fires depending on weather conditions, the agency stated in a statement.
As of 5 p.m., air quality was reported as being unhealthy for sensitive groups from Temecula in the west, Desert Center in the east, Desert Hot Springs in the north and Mecca to the southwest, according to the agency's online air quality map.
According to AccuWeather.com the valley temperature hit about 106 degrees as of 5:45 p.m. The day's high was 108 degrees.
Temperatures were expected to reach 101 degrees Saturday in the valley with sunny skies and a bit of a breeze, AccuWeather predicted. Sunday's high is expected to be 98 degrees, sunny and breezy.
South Coast Air Quality Management District gave the following suggestions:
Avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion.
Those with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter.
Run your air conditioner if you have one.
Do not use a swamp cooler or whole-house fan to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
To avoid worsening the health effects of wildfire smoke, don't use indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces.
post originated from http://www.desertsun.com
But there was always the possibility that the winds could have shifted and the smoke from the multiple fires burning in San Diego County traveled here.
A smoke advisory was issued Friday for portions of Los Angeles County and all of Orange County, San Bernardino County, and non-desert portions of Riverside County.
"The smoke advisory does not include the Coachella Valley," Sam Atwood, a spokesman for the air quality management district Friday. However, "it is possible that smoke from the L.A. Basin coming over the Banning Pass or just coming up from San Diego" can spill over to parts of the Coachella Valley.
"Bottom line is it's not a great day for air quality," Atwood said. "Anytime air quality is in the unhealthy zone, residents who are sensitive should not exercise vigorously outdoors."
Regardless of the wildfires' affect on air-quality measures, Coachella Valley residents and visitors smelled smoke and noticed a visible change in the air.
"At about 6:30 p.m., it started smelling like someone was smoking next to you," said Chase Wood, who was visiting Palm Springs from Orange County. "It was apparent it's the fire."
Near the Fantastic Sams' on Sunrise Way in Palm Springs, Taylor Meighan said she noticed a lot of haziness in the sky. "I thought it was a thunderstorm coming until I smelled the smoke," she said.
When there is fire in the area the air definitely changes, said Felipe Carbajal, a Palm Springs resident. Carbajal said he had been smelling smoke all day in the area.
The unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups in the Coachella Valley is due to ozone conditions and not smoke but that could change, Atwood said on Friday.
Sensitive groups can range from people who have asthma to those with heart conditions, Atwood said.
He encouraged Coachella Valley residents, especially those in sensitive groups, to sign up for air-quality alerts via airalerts.org. Alerts can be customized to your area, Atwood added.
Other areas of Southern California may also experience elevated particulate emissions and smoke odors from the fires depending on weather conditions, the agency stated in a statement.
As of 5 p.m., air quality was reported as being unhealthy for sensitive groups from Temecula in the west, Desert Center in the east, Desert Hot Springs in the north and Mecca to the southwest, according to the agency's online air quality map.
According to AccuWeather.com the valley temperature hit about 106 degrees as of 5:45 p.m. The day's high was 108 degrees.
Temperatures were expected to reach 101 degrees Saturday in the valley with sunny skies and a bit of a breeze, AccuWeather predicted. Sunday's high is expected to be 98 degrees, sunny and breezy.
South Coast Air Quality Management District gave the following suggestions:
Avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion.
Those with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter.
Run your air conditioner if you have one.
Do not use a swamp cooler or whole-house fan to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
To avoid worsening the health effects of wildfire smoke, don't use indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces.
post originated from http://www.desertsun.com
TOP NEWS SITES
CNN NEWS , CBS NEWS
, ABC
NEWS , REUTERS NEWS , BBC
NEWS
WORLD NEWS ,
MSNBC NEWS
, FOX
NEWS , USATODAY NEWS ,
Posted in: World
0 comments:
Post a Comment